Chandrababu Naidu copies KCR's Rythu Bandhu in AP

Vijayawada: In the election year, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu Government has rolled out yet another scheme targeting farmers. The new scheme Annadata Sukhibava was announced by finance minister Mr Yanamala Ramakrishnudu while presenting the vote-on-account budget for 2019-20 financial year on Tuesday.

Allocating around Rs 5,000 crore for the scheme, the minister did not elaborate much on the details of the new scheme. But it is learnt that the Government will dole out Rs 10,000 per acre to the farmers as input cost subsidy during the crop season which is on the lines of the Rythu Bandhu scheme introduced by Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in the neighbouring state.

Sources in AP government said that with the outlay of Rs 10,000 per acre as the first instalment, around Rs 2,500 per acre will be given in the coming month. Interestingly YSRC chief Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy too announced a similar scheme for farmers if voted to power.

The scheme will also be applicable to tenant farmers. Detailed guidelines along with GO will be released by the Government soon. It is learnt that the landowners and tenant farmers are eligible to get benefits under this scheme. This is a kind of input subsidy scheme where Rs 5,000 for each crop season will be disbursed for both kharif and rabi seasons.

It is estimated that about 96 lakh farmers will be benefitted through Annadata Sukhibhava Scheme. The scheme is expected to be rolled out from the coming kharif season.

Meanwhile, the Government has a huge task in the form of counting tenant farmers. It has proposed to distribute Rs 10,000 subsidy equally between the owner of the land and the tenant farmer.

“AP has about 58 per cent labour workforce engaged in agriculture which produces about 32 per cent share of the GSDP. Therefore, our government considers this sector as crucial for promoting inclusive development,” he said.